Imi Lichtenfeld, born on May 26, 1910, in Budapest, Hungary, and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia, was a pivotal figure in the world of martial arts. His early life was steeped in physical activity and self-defense, influenced by his father, Samuel Lichtenfeld, a police detective and self-defense instructor. Imi excelled in various sports, winning the Slovak youth wrestling championship in 1928 and achieving further victories in adult wrestling, national boxing, and gymnastics competitions by 1929.

The rise of fascism in the 1930s brought violence against Jewish communities in Bratislava. Imi organized young Jewish athletes, including boxers, wrestlers, and bodybuilders, to defend their neighborhoods. These street confrontations shaped his understanding of practical self-defense, highlighting the stark differences between sport and real-life combat.

In 1940, Imi fled Nazi-occupied Europe, eventually reaching Palestine in 1942. He joined the Hagana, the Jewish paramilitary organization, where he began training fighters in hand-to-hand combat. His methods, rooted in his experiences, emphasized efficiency, adaptability, and real-world applicability, forming the basis of what would become Krav Maga.

With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Imi became the Chief Instructor for physical fitness and Krav Maga in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He spent two decades refining his techniques, ensuring they were practical for soldiers under stress. His approach was holistic, integrating physical training, mental conditioning, and a strong emphasis on safety: “first of all, don’t be hurt.”

After retiring from the IDF in 1964, Imi adapted Krav Maga for civilian use, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. He established training centers in Tel Aviv and Netanya, introduced a belt system for structured learning, and continued to serve as a consultant and instructor.

In 1978, Imi founded the Israeli Krav Maga Association to promote and preserve his system. Krav Maga began to gain international recognition, spreading beyond Israel’s borders.

Imi Lichtenfeld passed away on January 8, 1998, at the age of 87. His legacy endures through Krav Maga, a self-defense system rooted in his life’s experiences and values of integrity, humility, and respect. His teachings continue to empower individuals worldwide to defend themselves effectively and safely.

Krav Maga vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

  • Krav Maga: Focuses on real-world self-defense, teaching techniques to neutralize threats quickly and efficiently, including strikes, disarms, and escapes from holds and chokes. Emphasizes practical scenarios like defending against multiple attackers or weapons.
  • BJJ: Specializes in ground fighting and submission grappling, aiming to control and submit opponents using leverage and technique. Ideal for one-on-one combat but less focused on multiple attackers or weapon defenses.

Krav Maga vs. Karate

  • Krav Maga: Prioritizes practical self-defense and quick neutralization of threats. Techniques are designed to be easy to learn and apply under stress.
  • Karate: A traditional martial art emphasizing strikes (kicks, punches) and kata (forms). While it includes self-defense aspects, it also focuses on discipline, kata performance, and sometimes sport competition.

Krav Maga vs. Sambo

  • Krav Maga: Emphasizes practical and efficient self-defense techniques for real-world situations, including disarming attackers.
  • Sambo: A martial art and combat sport from Russia that combines judo and wrestling techniques. It has two main styles: sport Sambo (focused on competition) and combat Sambo (includes strikes and self-defense techniques).

Krav Maga vs. Muay Thai

  • Krav Maga: Focuses on quick, effective self-defense tactics for various scenarios, including strikes, disarming, and defending against multiple attackers.
  • Muay Thai: Known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” it emphasizes striking using fists, elbows, knees, and shins. It is a combat sport and traditional martial art from Thailand, effective in stand-up fighting but less focused on self-defense against weapons or multiple attackers.

Krav Maga vs. Wrestling

  • Krav Maga: Designed for self-defense, incorporating strikes, grappling, and disarming techniques to handle real-life threats.
  • Wrestling: A sport focusing on grappling techniques to control and pin opponents. It includes various styles like freestyle and Greco-Roman but lacks striking and weapon defense components.

Krav Maga vs. Boxing

  • Krav Maga: A comprehensive self-defense system that includes strikes, grappling, and weapon defense, emphasizing real-life applicability.
  • Boxing: A sport and martial art centered on striking with fists. It develops excellent hand-eye coordination, footwork, and striking skills but does not include grappling or weapon defense.

Summary

  • Krav Maga: Practical, real-world self-defense, focusing on quick neutralization of threats, including strikes, grappling, and weapon defense. Suitable for various scenarios, including multiple attackers.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Ground fighting and submissions, effective in one-on-one combat.
  • Karate: Traditional strikes and forms, emphasizing discipline and sport competition.
  • Sambo: Combines grappling and strikes, with sport and combat styles.
  • Muay Thai: Stand-up striking using fists, elbows, knees, and shins, focusing on combat sports.
  • Wrestling: Grappling techniques to control and pin opponents, without strikes or weapon defense.
  • Boxing: Striking with fists, developing hand-eye coordination and footwork, without grappling or weapon defense.

Each martial art has its strengths and unique focus, making them suitable for different objectives, whether self-defense, sport, or personal development.

  • 1928: Imi won the Slovak youth wrestling championship.

  • 1929: Imi won the Slovak wrestling championship among adults in two weight categories, the national boxing championship, and an international gymnastics competition.

  • 1935: Imi suffered a broken rib before a competition in Palestine. This injury led him to prioritize safety in training, adopting the principle: “first of all, don’t be hurt.”

  • 1936-1940: Imi focused on wrestling, winning numerous medals and prizes. He also practiced acrobatics, taught gymnastics to a leading theater group in Czechoslovakia, and performed in several productions.

    During this time, Imi frequently defended against anti-Semitic attacks in Slovakia. He organized a group of young Jews skilled in boxing, wrestling, and bodybuilding to protect their community. These experiences shaped the first principles of Krav Maga:

    • Use reflexes and natural movement
    • Simultaneous attack and defense
    • Recover your strength after a blow

  • 1942: Imi’s friends introduced him to General Sadeh of the Hagana, who recruited him for his hand-to-hand combat skills.

  • 1944: Imi began training Israeli fighters, including elite units like the Palmach and Palyam, teaching them combat fitness, bayonet tactics, sentry attacks, unarmed combat (Krav Maga), swimming, knife fighting, and stick fighting.

  • 1948: With the formation of the State of Israel and the IDF, Imi became the Chief Instructor in physical education and Krav Maga for the army, serving for 20 years and refining his self-defense method. He personally trained elite Israeli fighters and Krav Maga instructors, earning high recognition from military ranks.

    The Ministry of Education later recognized Krav Maga for civilian training. Imi emphasized that Krav Maga should be easy to learn and effective under stress for all individuals, including soldiers, office workers, and elite fighters. An incident in the 1960s, where he had to defend himself against a student trying to harm him, reinforced his belief in training safely: “don’t try to prove who you are.”

  • 1964: After retiring from the IDF, Imi adapted Krav Maga for civilians, creating a method suitable for everyone, including men, women, young people, and adults. He established training centers in Tel Aviv and Netanya, introduced a belt system to structure progress, and continued consulting and instructing for the IDF and other security forces.

  • 1972: The first civilian instructor training course was held at the Wingate Institute.

  • 1978: Imi founded the Israeli Krav Maga Association to disseminate the method and uphold its values, remaining its president for life.

  • 1981: Krav Maga began to gain international recognition.

Until his final days, Imi continued to develop Krav Maga techniques and concepts, supervising top practitioners and instructors. He maintained a strong spirit and sense of humor, sharing his knowledge and insights with his students.

Imi Lichtenfeld passed away on January 8, 1998, at the age of 87, leaving a legacy of a self-defense system grounded in moral and human values, emphasizing integrity, humility, and respect for others.